Tithing and tax rebates
At a rally I attended earlier this year about the upcoming tax rebate, U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings made an off-hand reference to good church people and tithing.
Tithing is the practice of giving to one's religious community, whether one follows a strict interpretation of some teaching or guideline, i.e. 10 percent of one's earnings, or gives a more loosely defined contribution.
It may have gained some bad connotations over the years, but tithing makes sense: if you gain some benefit from your religious group, you should support it financially, even if there's technically no admission fee to enter the doors. After all, someone's got to cover the cost of heat and health insurance.
Here's Beliefnet's breakdown of tithing practices among major religious groups, and the basis for such beliefs (including references to scripture, if applicable).
Beliefnet.com also has a transcript of this ancient 2001 NPR commentary by Steven Waldman asking what Jesus would do with his tax cut ... calling for Americans to donate a portion of that year's tax rebate to good causes --- real compassionate conservativism, in his eyes.
This year's unexpected "economic stimulus" payment is a different animal than your standard refund, however. And what about earned interest? Birthday or other gifts? Should you draw a line?
At Online Baptist, one poster asked if it was necessary to tithe on tax refunds if one was already calculating a donation based on one's gross income. Now if you were talking net ...
Sometimes churches try to teach their congregants how to budget to get themselves out of debt and stay there --- as well as factor their donations into their priorities.
Do you tithe, and if so, how much? Has the tax rebate affected how much you will give this year? Have your religious leaders reminded you from the pulpit or through letters that you could tithe part or all of your rebate?
Comments
My husband and I have always given a tithe (10%) and we also give of the 90% that is left. I personally have tithed since my first allowance! Because of this biblical principal we proudly and gladly practice, we have never experienced a lack! God is faithful to us and we are so thankful of his many blessings through our obedience to Him!
Posted by: Naarah A. Brown | May 9, 2008 8:15 AM
Years ago, when I lived in Virginia, the pastor at the church I attended there was fond of saying, "If you want to tithe less, ask God to give you a job that pays less."
It may have the ring of guilt-tripping from the pulpit, but his pointed humor was well placed, I always thought.
In my household, we tithe 10 percent of our gross and it comes off the top ... it is the first item listed on our budget.
I firmly believe that God loves a "cheerful giver." We don't see tithing as an obligation, or worse, a debt.
Tithing is our opportunity to share in God's work --- our tithing not only supports the upkeep of the church (the basics, such as utilities), it also makes it possible for the church to continue doing God's work --- charity, mission work, etc.
As for whether one should be tithing off rebate checks and the like ... that question misses the entire point of tithing.
I do believe that the less responsible we are with the opportunities that God gives us to earn and to acquire things, the less likely we are to see the bounty in anything that we have.
But tithing isn't about keeping a balanced account with God. I don't believe God is in the bookkeeping business, and I seriously doubt he's tracking every dime that lands in our lap to see how we handle it.
Posted by: Gina Davis | May 9, 2008 11:19 AM
I completely agree that our tax rebates can make a difference. Whether we choose to tithe or send our rebate money to some other worthy charity.
I found a cool site - 08Donate.com - that helps people find a charity they would like to give to, and it also has fun ways to spread this great giving message to others who might also want to give. If even 1% of the rebate gets donated that 1.5 billion dollars out there fighting hunger, protecting the planet, accelerating peace and supporting many other worthy causes. 08Donate ...timely idea! Tell your friends.
I cant wait to donate my rebate.
Posted by: CJ | May 11, 2008 6:03 PM